Wampus Cats secure volleyball state berth with win

CLARK FORK — Clark Fork punched its ticket to state with a 25-17, 25-19 and 25-20 sweep of Mullan Thursday night in the 1A Division II volleyball championship Thursday night at Clark Fork High School.

Brocklynn Thornton swatted a match-high 19 kills and stuffed three blocks to lead the Wampus Cats (11-4), showing she’ll be a force to be reckoned with when the Cats open the state tournament next Friday in Burley, where they hope to improve upon last year’s third place finish.

Celeste Komanec tallied 25 set assists and two aces, Mariah Miller hammered nine kills and two aces, Claire McMahon added six kills and Tess Vogel and Lyndsie Kiebert six digs apiece for the Cats, who were ready to play.

“Everyone wanted it and was excited to play,” said Cats head coach Michelle Adams, thinks her team can make some noise at state. “Everyone will need to be mentally strong, setting up balls and making plays out of everything.”

Kami McKinnon had eight set assists and two kills, Morgan Koenig five kills and Sydney Kotschevar three assists, three blocks and two kills in defeat for the Tigers (10-5).

“We were just flat the first two games. The third game we finally showed some spark,” said Tigers head coach Dawn McKinnon, who likes the Cats’ chances at state. “They’re going to represent our league well down at state. Their hitters are hitting hard.”